Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Plans Johnny Cash Tribute Concert

johnnycash

Johnny Cash photo courtesy Sony Music Entertainment

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland will honor Johnny Cash during the 21st Annual Music Masters series, presented by Klipsch Audio.

The celebration—including an exhibit opening, interviews, panels, bus tour and educational programs—will honor the 1992 inductee during the week of Oct. 17-22. The Annual Music Masters concert will take place Oct. 21 at Playhouse Square’s State Theatre. A performer lineup, general tickets and event details are expected in September. VIP packages are available, starting at $300, by calling 216-515-1201 or emailing development@rockhall.org.

“We are so grateful that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is honoring Johnny Cash for the 2016 Annual Music Masters series,” said John Carter Cash. “Our father remains one of the most enduring names in entertainment history, and this recognition helps further his legacy and inspire both existing fans as well as a whole new generation of Johnny Cash fans.”

“The 21st Annual Music Masters concert will explore his many musical journeys and include performers who represent the broad range of his influence,” said Jason Hanley, VP of Education and Visitor Engagement for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “What’s so amazing about Cash is that almost every musician you ask will tell you that they love his music – from the rockabilly and country of his Sun Records recordings in the 1950s, and his outlaw image and his famous concerts at Folsom Prison and San Quentin, to his enduring love for June Carter Cash and their music work together (including the great ‘Ring of Fire”’), or his later American Recordings music that frequently saw him putting his own unique musical fingerprints on some of rocks newest sounds (like Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’ or Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hurt’). Fans will also be able to pay tribute to Cash and the longstanding popularity and impact of his work that lives on in our lives throughout the weeklong celebration. Music Masters is about bringing everything we do at the Rock Hall together to look at the life, music, and legacy of an artist.”

Educational programs include a keynote lecture at Case Western Reserve University. Capping off the week, on Oct. 22, fans will be able to participate in a Johnny Cash celebration at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with special guests and events exploring Cash’s impact on popular music. Cash’s million-mile tour bus,“J.C. Unit One,” is at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame through October 2016. The 40-foot ebony and silver rig transported Cash and his wife June, along with a cast of characters from 1980-2003, including the 1991 Highwayman Tour with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson.

The Annual Music Masters series, a co-production of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Center for Popular Music Studies at Case Western Reserve University, celebrates the lives and careers of artists who changed the shape and sound of rock ‘n’ roll music. Previous honorees and performers have included Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Woody Guthrie, Sam Cooke, Les Paul, Janis Joplin, Fats Domino, Aretha Franklin, Leon Russell, Everly Brothers, Graham Nash, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Smokey Robinson.

Lauren Daigle, Hillsong UNITED, Chris Tomlin Lead Dove Award Nominations

Pictured (clockwise from top left): Lauren Daigle, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong UNITED

Pictured (clockwise from top left): Lauren Daigle, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong UNITED

Lauren Daigle leads the nominees for the 47th annual Dove Awards with six nominations, including Artist of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (“Trust In You”), Song of the Year (“First,” “Trust In You”), Songwriter of the Year (Artist), and Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year.

Hillsong UNITED follows with five nominations, including nominations in the Artist of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Empires), Worship Album of the Year (Empires), and Recorded Music Packaging of the Year categories.

Chris Tomlin also picked up five nominations including Songwriter of the Year-Artist, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (“Good Good Father”), Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year (“Let It Be Jesus”), Worship Song of the Year (“Even So Come”), and Christmas Album of the Year categories.

Songwriter Jason Ingram picked up seven nods, including Song of the Year (“First”).

“Congratulations to all of this year’s Dove Award nominees!” GMA executive director Jackie Patillo stated. “We celebrate the outstanding achievement, hard work and creative excellence you have poured into this life-changing music.”

Patillo continued, “Our theme this year is ‘Love. Amplified.,’ a phrase we believe encompasses the collective power and impact of our music. At a time when so much of the world is divided and hostility is in the air, we will turn up the volume of love and the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.”

The Dove Awards will be held Oct. 11 at Lipscomb University and will air on TBN on Oct. 16.  Voting for the final winners will run Aug. 23 through Aug. 30.

47th Annual Dove Awards Nominations

Artist of the Year
for KING & COUNTRY, Word Entertainment
Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Music Australia/Sparrow Records
Lauren Daigle, Centricity Music
Lecrae, Reach Records
TobyMac, ForeFront Records

New Artist of the Year
Hollyn, Gotee Records
Jordan Feliz, Centricity Music
Stars Go Dim, Word Entertainment
Travis Greene, RCA Inspiration
We Are Messengers, Word Entertainment

Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year
Casting Crowns, Reunion Records
Danny Gokey, BMG Rights Management
for King & Country, Word Entertainment
Lauren Daigle, Centricity Music
TobyMac, Forefront Records

Songwriter of the Year (Artist)
Chris Tomlin
Joel Houston
Lauren Daigle
Matt Redman
Matthew West

Songwriter of the Year (non-Artist)
Bernie Herms
David Garcia
Jason Ingram
Michael Farren
Paul Mabury

Producer of the Year
Bernie Herms
David Garcia
Kirk Franklin
Wayne Haun
(Team) Seth Mosley & Michael X O’Connor

For a full list of 47th annual Dove Award nominees, visit doveawards.com.

Cumberland Heights Opens Music Row Area Location

Pictured (L-R): Cumberland Heights CEO Jay Crosson, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, musician John Hiatt and philanthropist George Beodecker

Pictured (L-R): Cumberland Heights CEO Jay Crosson, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, musician John Hiatt and philanthropist George Boedecker

Nashville-based alcohol and drug treatment center Cumberland Heights opened its new Music Row Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) on Tuesday (Aug. 9) with an open house and ribbon-cutting that included Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, musician John Hiatt and many other community leaders and supporters of Cumberland Heights.

 

The Music Row IOP is located at 1619 17th Ave. South, and offers alternatives to inpatient treatment for patients who seek daytime and evening counseling in order to continue with their schools or careers. IOPs offer flexible scheduling, group therapy, 12-Step meetings and specialized family therapy. The Music Row IOP places a 12 step-based rehabilitative program nearer those who need it most and affords more flexible care for those who do not require the medical detoxification that requires inpatient care.

Since its founding in 1966, Cumberland Heights has built a reputation for helping many music industry professionals recover life from drug and alcohol addiction.  The Music Row IOP is Cumberland Heights’ 10th outpatient facility in Tennessee, and the first in the central part of Nashville.

“Cumberland Heights has a long history of working with members of the music industry, so it’s so great to finally be located here on Music Row,” said Cumberland Heights Chief Executive Officer Jay Crosson. “We are excited to be located so close the music, collegiate and downtown Nashville communities, making this type of treatment as accessible as possible to those that might need it. Cumberland Heights is known for recovery, and Nashville is known for music, so this is a natural location for us.”

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry also spoke briefly at the opening event. “I want to thank the entire staff of Cumberland Heights for all the good work that they do for people who are overcoming addiction and regaining control of their lives,” she said. “This facility is such an important component of how we go about building a warm and welcoming place and serving our community. Thanks to Cumberland Heights and the Boedecker Foundation for making all of this possible.”

Pictured (L-R): Executive Director of Cumberland Heights’ IOPs Randal Lea; Cumberland Heights CEO Jay Crosson; musician John Hiatt; philanthropist George Bedecked; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry; and Cumberland Heights Board Chair Alex McDougall

Pictured (L-R): Executive Director of Cumberland Heights’ IOPs Randal Lea; Cumberland Heights CEO Jay Crosson; musician John Hiatt; philanthropist George Boedecker; Nashville Mayor Megan Barry; and Cumberland Heights Board Chair Alex McDougall

Big Machine Music, 19 Publishing Form Joint Venture

Nick Fradiani, Trent Harmon

Pictured (L-R): Nick Fradiani, Trent Harmon

Big Machine Music and 19 Publishing have entered into a joint music publishing venture. The agreement will allow Big Machine Music to co-publish and administer all rights for Big Machine Records/19 Recordings artists Nick Fradiani and Trent Harmon, and administer the associated rights for 19’s share.

“It’s so exciting to be a partner with 19 on these incredibly talented artists/songwriters,” said Mike Molinar, Big Machine Music VP/General Manager. “American Idol just scratched the surface of showing off both artists’ unlimited potential and we can’t wait for everyone to hear what is coming next!”

Fradiani’s debut album Hurricane released Friday (Aug. 5). Fradiani co-wrote 11 of the 12 tracks, including the pop & Hot AC hit “Get You Home,” his debut single “Beautiful Life,” and fan-favorite “All on You.”

Harmon recently premiered his debut single, “There’s A Girl” on FOX & Friends’ Summer Concert series. Shortly after his American Idol win, he co-wrote the song with Jimmy Robbins and Big Machine Music’s Laura Veltz.

Industry Ink: ASCAP, Americana Music Association, Cumulus Media

ASCAP To Celebrate Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann Single With Music Row Party

ASCAP S'MORES PARTY
Jerrod Niemann
and Lee Brice will celebrate their collaboration, “A Little More Love,” with a free s’mores party in Nashville. The event will be held at ASCAP’s parking lot on Friday (Aug. 12) from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The duet is Niemann’s first release since signing with Curb Records in March. Brice is also on Curb’s roster.

 

Americanafest NYC Celebrates Third Year With 40th Anniversary Tribute To “The Last Waltz”

Pictured (L-R): Kristina “Red” Tanner (ROAR), Matt Maher (ROAR), Richard Story (President, Commercial Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment), Adam Block (President, Legacy Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment), Bob Weir, Kraig Fox (ROAR), Jed Hilly (Americana Music Association), Liz Norris (ROAR), Bernie Cahill (ROAR) and Matt Busch (ROAR). (Photo Credit: Gary Gershoff)

Pictured (L-R): Kristina “Red” Tanner (ROAR), Matt Maher (ROAR), Richard Story (President, Commercial Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment), Adam Block (President, Legacy Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment), Bob Weir, Kraig Fox (ROAR), Jed Hilly (Americana Music Association), Liz Norris (ROAR), Bernie Cahill (ROAR) and Matt Busch (ROAR). (Photo Credit: Gary Gershoff)

Americanafest NYC celebrated the third year of its partnership with Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors Series, with a 40th anniversary tribute to The Last Waltz. The event featured Bob Weir, Dr. John, Buddy Miller, Lucinda Williams, Howard Johnson, Patty Griffin, Anderson East and Parker Millsap with Those Pretty Wrongs, Mary Gauthier, The Cactus Blossoms, Teddy Thompson & Kelly Jones and Dwight Yoakam rounding out the weekend.

“We were thrilled with the attendance and want to thank, again, the team at Lincoln Center for their incredible partnership. This event keeps getting better and better,” says Americana Music Association’s Executive Director Jed Hilly.

 

Cumulus Media Names Jeff Meltesen To New Role

Jeff Meltesen

Jeff Meltesen

Cumulus Media-Nashville has appointed Jeff Meltesen, formerly publisher of NASH Country Weekly, as Senior Account Executive / Sponsorship Sales. Meltesen will report to Rhonda Rollins, General Sales Manager for NASH FM 103.3 (WKDF) and 95.5 NASH ICON (WSM-FM), and will focus on advertising solutions for clients on Cumulus’ country radio stations and sponsorship sales of events and promotions for all stations in the cluster.

Meltesen can be reached at 615-312-3517 or at jeff.meltesen@cumulus.com.

Exclusive: Sara Evans Plans Album On Sugar Hill Records

Pictured: Front (L-R): Tracy Gershon, VP A&R, Rounder Label Group; Sara Evans; Cliff O’Sullivan, COO, Rounder Label Group. Back (L-R): David Newmark, Factor Marketing; Jim Selby, General Manager, Concord Music Group; Craig Dunn, Manager, The Collective; Brinson Strickland, President of The Collective; Brad Chelstrom, Project Manager, Rounder Label Group; Rachel Cunningham, Manager, The Collective; Ashley Moyer, Publicity Manager, Rounder Label Group

Pictured: Front (L-R): Tracy Gershon, VP A&R, Rounder Label Group; Sara Evans; Cliff O’Sullivan, COO, Rounder Label Group. Back (L-R): David Newmark, Factor Marketing; Jim Selby, General Manager, Concord Music Group; Craig Dunn, Manager, The Collective; Brinson Strickland, President of The Collective; Brad Chelstrom, Project Manager, Rounder Label Group; Rachel Cunningham, Manager, The Collective; Ashley Moyer, Publicity Manager, Rounder Label Group. Photo: Adam Jones

Concord Music Group has signed singer-songwriter Sara Evans. The ACM Award-winning vocalist will soon head into the studio to begin work on her debut project for Sugar Hill Records, a Nashville-based imprint that is part of the Concord family. The project will be her eighth studio album overall and is slated for release in early 2017.

Evans joins a roster that includes Sugar Hill Records artists Jewel, Lee Ann Womack, Josh Kelley, Shawn Mullins and Corey Smith as well as fellow Concord Music Group artists including Paul McCartney, Melissa Etheridge, James Taylor and more.

Evans was courted by a number of labels after parting with longtime label home RCA Nashville. She says signing with Sugar Hill was her first choice.

“First of all I love [Rounder Label Group VP, A&R] Tracy Gershon and I’ve known her for years,” Evans tells MusicRow. “I’ve always been a fan of Rounder and Sugar Hill, the artists they put out and produce, especially Alison Krauss. I’ve been a huge Alison Krauss fan for years. They are all about the art, the artist, the song and really making compelling, authentic music. That’s what I want to do and I want to be able to make the kind of music that I want, without the constraints of ‘Well, is this commercial enough?’ I just want to make a beautiful record.”

“We are thrilled to have Sara Evans join the Rounder Label Group family. I’ve followed her astounding career and watched her grow as an artist and as an individual for years, from her first record Three Chords and the Truth to her 2011 smash Stronger,” said Tracy Gershon, Vice President of A&R for Rounder Label Group. “One aspect I’ve always admired about Sara is the excitement that others continue to have for her and the music – from publishers to fans and peers alike. We are honored to have her join the Rounder family and I can’t wait to share this next chapter of her musical journey.”

The Missouri native made her debut on RCA Nashville in 1997, with the release of Three Chords and the Truth. Evans earned double-platinum status for her 2000 project Born To Fly, along with the platinum honors for 2003’s Restless and for 2005’s Real Fine Place. Along the way, she placed a string of hits atop the country singles charts, including “A Real Fine Place To Start,” “Suds In The Bucket,” “A Little Bit Stronger,” and “No Place That Far.”

Evans hasn’t yet chosen a producer for the project, though she says she is considering a young rising talent from outside the country genre. Currently, her focus is on publisher meetings and writing appointments for the new project, which she says will showcase a wider range of musical influences than her previous albums.

“It doesn’t have to be in any specific genre and that’s what I’m excited about,” says Evans. “I can sing really country and mountainy bluegrass, mostly because that’s what I was raised on, and how I first loved to sing. I definitely do have that. However, I can sing pop, country, blues and anything as long as it is a song that moves me. It’s kind of funny in the pitch meetings, because people might pitch a song and say, ‘Well, it’s not really country, it’s more on the pop side,’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t care about all of that. All I want is a great song.’”

“On all of my albums, I’ve covered a broad range of songs but I think I’m most excited to give them another look at Sara Evans. I’m not becoming a different artist, I’m just excited to show my fans even more of me.”

ACM Honors Adds Performers, Triple Crown Award Presentation

Jason Aldean. Photo: Jim Wright

Jason Aldean. Photo: Jim Wright

The Academy of Country Music has announced Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Cam, Maren Morris, Cole Swindell, Keith Urban and hosts Lady Antebellum as performers for the 10th annual ACM Honors.

The event will be held Aug. 30 at the Ryman Auditorium. For the first time, it will be filmed for a network broadcast, slated to air Sept. 9 on CBS.

The Academy also announced that Aldean, reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, will be honored with the Academy’s prestigious Triple Crown Award. This award is given to those who have won New Male/Female Vocalist of the Year, Male/Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.

Aldean’s Entertainer of the Year win this year made him eligible for this honor, as he was previously honored with the New Male Vocalist of the Year (2005) and Male Vocalist of the Year (2012-2014). The Triple Crown Award has been awarded to only six other artists, including: Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Mickey Gilley, Merle Haggard, Barbara Mandrell and Carrie Underwood.

As previously announced, the ACM Honors will honor Special Awards recipients Glen Campbell (Career Achievement Award), Crystal Gayle (Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award), Eddie Rabbitt (Poet’s Award, awarded posthumously), Tanya Tucker (Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award), Carrie Underwood (ACM Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award), Keith Urban (Mae Boren Axton Award), Jeff Walker (Jim Reeves International Award, awarded posthumously), Jimmy Webb (Poet’s Award), Little Big Town (Crystal Milestone Award) and The Statler Brothers (Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award).

Studio Recording Awards recipients include Jim ‘Moose’ Brown (Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year), Dave Cobb (Producer of the Year), Shannon Forrest (Drummer of the Year), Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar Player of the Year), Justin Niebank (Audio Engineer of the Year), Danny Rader (Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year), Michael Rhodes (Bass Player of the Year) and Derek Wells (Guitar Player of the Year). In addition, Ross Copperman will be honored as Songwriter of the Year.

Eric Church Reveals 2017 Tour, Two Nashville Concerts In May

Eric Church. Photo: Jensen Sutta

Eric Church. Photo: Jensen Sutta

Eric Church gave the crowd something extra to be excited about during his performance at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado last night (Aug. 9). The singer-songwriter revealed he will bring his 2017 Holdin’ My Own Tour to 60+ cities next year.

The tour, which launches Jan. 17 in Lincoln, Nebraska, will conclude with two shows at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on May 26 and May 27.

For this tour, Church will have no opening acts. Instead, he and his band will perform two full sets, with an intermission between.

As with previous tours, Church is committed to fighting scalping and unfair ticket prices. Church and his team have developed a new fan club pre-sale system that will allow them to remove scalpers from the pre-sale process before it even happens. Church Choir members will pre-register for the fan club pre-sale prior to it starting. Once verified, fan club members will receive buy links via text message when the pre-sale starts. Scalpers that are found to be gaming the system and posing as real fans won’t receive the buy link.

This tour features a larger allotment of fan club tickets than in the past so Church Choir members will have better success buying tickets in the pre-sale.  The Church Choir pre-sale will be the only pre-sale. There will be no venue, credit card or radio pre-sales.

New for the Holdin’ My Own Tour, Church commissioned a proprietary technology that scrubs ticket purchases using up to 10 different data points and automatically flags orders made by scalpers. Orders may be cancelled at any time and without warning. Finally, delivery of all ticket orders will be delayed until the days leading up to each show. Church hopes that this will make it impossible for scalpers to complete their transactions.

“In this era where growing inequality seems to be the norm, we wanted to do everything within our power to put the advantage back in the hands of true fans rather than those that take advantage of the system, and by extension our people,” said John Peets, Church’s manager. “It was important to us to invest time into evaluating and redesigning the ticket buying process and build the technology to level the playing field.”

2017 Holdin’ My Own Tour Dates:
Friday, Jan. 13: Lincoln, Neb.; Pinnacle Bank Arena
Saturday, Jan. 14: Sioux Falls, S.D.; Denny Sanford Premier Center
Sunday, Jan. 15: Grand Forks, N.D.; Ralph Engelstad Arena
Thursday, Jan. 19: Des Moines, Iowa; Wells Fargo Center
Friday, Jan. 20: Minneapolis, Minn.; Target Center
Saturday, Jan. 21: Green Bay, Wis.; Resch Center
Wednesday, Jan. 25: Philadelphia, Pa.; Wells Fargo Arena
Friday, Jan. 27: Brooklyn, N.Y.; Barclays Center
Saturday, Jan. 28: Boston, Mass.; TD Garden
Tuesday, Jan. 31: Kansas City Mo.; Sprint Center
Thursday, Feb. 2: Tulsa, Okla.; BOK Center
Friday, Feb. 3: Dallas, Texas; American Airlines Center
Thursday, Feb. 16: Duluth, Ga.; Infinite Energy Center
Friday, Feb. 17: Birmingham, Ala.; Legacy Arena at BJCC
Thursday, Feb. 23: Indianapolis, Ind.; Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Friday, Feb. 24: Cleveland, Ohio; Quicken Loans Arena
Saturday, Feb. 25: Auburn Hills, Mich.; The Palace at Auburn Hills
Tuesday, Feb. 28: London, ONT; Budweiser Gardens
Thursday, March 2: Toronto, ONT; Air Canada Centre
Friday, March 3: Ottawa, ONT; Canadian Tire Centre
Saturday, March 4: Montreal, QUE; Bell Centre
Tuesday, March 7: Winnipeg, MB; MTS Centre
Thursday, March 9: Saskatoon, SK; SaskTel Centre
Friday, March 10: Edmonton, AB; Rexall Place
Saturday, March 11: Calgary, AB; Scotiabank Saddledome
Tuesday, March 14: Vancouver, BC; Rogers Arena
Thursday, March 16: Portland, Ore.; Moda Center
Friday, March 17: Spokane, Wash.; Spokane Arena
Saturday, March 18: Tacoma, Wash.; Tacoma Dome
Wednesday, March 22: Bozeman, Mont.; Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
Friday, March 24: Boise, Idaho; Taco Bell Arena
Saturday, March 25: Salt Lake City, Utah; Vivint Smart Home Arena
Tuesday, March 28: Phoenix, Ariz.; Talking Sticks Resort Arena
Thursday, March 30: Sacramento, Calif.; Golden 1 Center
Friday, March 31: Los Angeles; STAPLES Center
Tuesday, April 4: Casper, Wy.; Casper Events Center
Wednesday, April 5: Denver; Pepsi Center
Friday, April 7: Wichita, Kan.; INTRUST Bank Arena
Saturday, April 8: Omaha, Neb.; CenturyLink Center Omaha
Wednesday, April 12: Moline, Ill.; iWireless Center
Thursday, April 13: Chicago; Allstate Arena
Friday, April 14: Milwaukee, Wis.; BMO Harris Bradley Center
Thursday, April 20: Buffalo, N.Y.; First Niagara Center
Friday, April 21: Pittsburgh, Pa.; CONSOL Energy Center
Saturday, April 22: Cincinnati, Ohio; US Bank Arena
Thursday, April 27: Uncasville, Conn.; Mohegan Sun Arena
Friday, April 28: Uncasville, Conn.; Mohegan Sun Arena
Saturday, April 29: Manchester, N.H.; Verizon Wireless Arena
Thursday, May 4: Tampa, Fla.; Amalie Arena
Friday, May 5: Jacksonville, Fla.; Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Thursday, May 11: Grand Rapids, Mich.; Van Andel Arena
Friday, May 12: Peoria, Ill.; Peoria Civic Center
Saturday, May 13: St. Louis; Scottrade Center
Thursday, May 18: Reading, Pa.; Santander Arena
Friday, May 19: Washington, D.C.; Verizon Center
Saturday, May 20: Greensboro, N.C.; Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Friday, May 26: Nashville, Tenn.; Bridgestone Arena
Saturday, May 27: Nashville, Tenn.; Bridgestone Arena

Industry Ink: Watershed Festival, TNT Artist Development, MusicStartsHere

Watershed Music Festival

Photo: FlyHi Films

The fifth annual Watershed Festival near George, Washington, made history over the weekend (Aug. 5-7) as the first-ever country music festival to host two consecutive weekends. Headliners Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Keith Urban performed both weekends.

“I’m still processing these past two weeks,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring. “To expand to two weekends was a huge undertaking for all, including the artists and fans, and we’re not taking that for granted. Everyone involved helped us make history and we couldn’t be more humbled. We were able to provide unique experiences for both sets of shedders and more people were able to experience the magic of the festival.”

 

Kimberly Kelly Signs With TNT Artist Development

Kimberly Kelly

Kimberly Kelly

Texas singer-songwriter Kimberly Kelly has signed with TNT Artist Development for management services.

Now based in Nashville, Kelly recently earned her first cut, “WTF,” which was included on Tara Thompson’s Valory Music Co. project and was co-written with Thompson, Alex Kline, and Erin Enderlin. Kelly has also collaborated with Radney Foster, Larry McCoy and Monty Holmes. Kelly released her self-titled debut album in 2007, followed by 2010’s Sweet Time Dreamin’. Currently in the studio finishing her latest single, Kelly is expected to release new music this fall.

TNT Artist Development launched in 2016 as a full-service artist development company offering management and marketing services. The company is owned by Tammy Ragusa, a former Arista/Nashville, RCA and Capitol Nashville artist development manager and Nash Country Weekly staff writer.

 

MusicStartsHere, The Sessions To Welcome Jim Peterik, Liberty DeVitto For Nashville Panel

Music Starts Here Logo

MusicStartsHere will host its next session on Thursday, Aug. 18 from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Nashville’s W.O. Smith Music School.

Among those on the panel are “Eye of the Tiger” co-writer Jim Peterik, freelancer Dom Famularo, Saturday Night Live vocalist Christine Ohlman, drummer Liberty DeVitto, entertainment lawyer Paul Quin, music business coach Rick Drumm, artist relations manager Rick Dejonge.

In addition to the panel, the event will include dinner and an all-star jam session.

To register for this free event, visit thesessions.org.

Artist Updates: Charlie Worsham, Dan + Shay, Kix Brooks, Chris Lane

Charlie Worsham Plays ‘Every Damn Monday’ August Series

Pictured (L-R): Charlie Worsham and Brent Cobb

Pictured (L-R): Charlie Worsham and Brent Cobb

Charlie Worsham lit up the crowd at the Basement East on Monday (Aug. 8) for his second Every Damn Monday show, where he was joined by Brent Cobb for a special Hot Possum band reunion. The pair performed an 18-song set of country covers, including classics by artists such as Conway Twitty, Buck Owens and Glen Campbell.

Worsham will continue with the series through August, returning Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and all proceeds go to his Follow Your Heart Foundation.

 

Dan + Shay Perform “The World’s Greatest” on GMA

Dan + Shay stopped by ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday (Aug. 8) to perform “The World’s Greatest,” interspersed with clips of patriotic fans and athletes from across the country in honor of the 2016 Olympic Games’ commencement.

 

Kix Brooks To Visit CMHoF For Book Signing

Cookin'itwithkixKix Brooks will visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. to sign his first cookbook, Cookin’ It With Kix: The Art of Celebrating and the Fun of Outdoor Cooking, available in stores on Aug. 30. A limited number of signing passes will be available for those who purchase the cookbook at the Museum Store. No personal items will be signed.

 

Big Loud Records’ Chris Lane Celebrates First No. 1 Single

Pictured (L-R): WEBG Director of Promotions Emily Bermann, CBS Radio VP Programming/ WUSN PD Jeff Kapugi, Chris Lane, spouse Laurie Kapugi, WUSN APD Marci Braun, and Director Midwest Promotion Roger Fregoso.

Pictured (L-R): WEBG Director of Promotions Emily Bermann, CBS Radio VP Programming/ WUSN PD Jeff Kapugi, Chris Lane, spouse Laurie Kapugi, WUSN APD Marci Braun, and Director Midwest Promotion Roger Fregoso.

Big Loud Records artist Chris Lane got official word of his first No. 1 on his debut single “Fix” while surrounded by country radio partners at Rascal Flatts’ Rhythm and Roots Tour stop in Chicago on Sunday (Aug. 7).